Eugene V. Debs

I. Eugene V. Debs was a Union leader who fought for the rights of workers.

A. Since and early age he learned the values and hardships of work. He was a hard working man who stood against all forces to demand rightful rights. Eugene Debs ead many successful ands unsuccessful strikes. The government considered him a rebel and often placed him behind bars.

B. Despite all the odds Eugene Debs helped shape the America into what it is today, by struggled until

the rights of workers were protected.

II. Eugene Debs grew up and began his early development into the man he would become in Terre Haute, Indiana.

A. He was born on November 5, 1855.

B. He was the son of Margurite Marie Debs and Jean Daniel Debs.

C. On November 10, 1848, his parents migrated to America. When they arrived they settled in New York where they married. His Parents were loving, caring and wise.(www.marxists.org)

D. Then on September 25, 1848 They returned to Terre Haute to raise their children. They gave birth to ten children but only six of them lived. (www.marxists.org)

E. Eugune had four sisters and one brother.

F. Eugene had a normal childhood with loving parents

G. He was taught at an early age to think about others and to care for the needs of those around him.

H. “ Sincere affection gives insight, intuition, understanding, and equips for service and shuts out greed and degrading ambition for place and power”(www.marxists.org)

a. In other words, Eugene learned at a young age that he should be concerned with events occurring

around him. This early instruction gave him his passion for wanting to help others.

III. At a young age, Eugenes education was inturrupted by his desire to work.

A. He went to Terre Haute Public schools.

B. At the age of fourteen he dropped out of school to work as painter in railroad yards (ffrf.org).

C. Later when he was 25 years (1870) he became fireman on the railroad and at night he went to a local business college.

D. In 1879 he became assistant editor of National Brother hood of Locomotive Fireman’s magazine.

E. Eugene later became the leader for Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen(BLF) and the leader of the American Railway Union(ARU)( www.spartacus.schoolnet.co).

IV. As the leader of the ARU he organized a successful strike against the Chicago Pullman Palace Car. Because of his strong leadership skills he gained popularity. He ran for president five times losing all elections.

A. In 1894 during the pullman strike Eugene was arrested. He was charged with contempt of court. (www.spartacus.schoolnet.co)

B. Also in 1894 he led a nationwide boycott of the railroad system and burned thousands of railway cars. The Capitalists were quick to fight back. (cooperativeindividualism.org).

C. During his arrest he was introduced to the ideas of Marx and Socialism. After this he announced to the public that he was a socialist.

D. The in 1897, no longer in prison, he joined Victor Berg and Ella Reeve to form the socialist Party.

a. “Debbs embraced socialism…his radicalism grew from an idealistic belief in economic justice to Labor movements and set backs” (www.spartacus.schoolnet.co)

b. That is, he took action by organizing strikes and leading many unions to protect